A Good 'Ol Mountain Christmas (with Paul F. Tompkins and Nicole Parker)

·1 hr 10 min·5 clips

Jessica McKenna and Zach Reino welcome Paul F. Tompkins and Nicole Parker for an improvised holiday musical about a mountain Christmas.

The episode begins with Zach Reino announcing a 2024 tour before introducing the holiday special with guests Paul F. Tompkins and Nicole Parker. The improvised musical centers on a 'good ol' mountain Christmas' at Aunt Sally's cabin. Early scenes establish the mountain setting through humorous signs like 'falling rock' and 'are you in a defensible position?'. A father, Teddy, receives bat-delivered letters from his sister Sally, inviting him and his twins, Seamus and Timmis, for Christmas. Teddy reveals he hasn't spoken to Sally in years due to moving to the flatlands, creating family tension. Meanwhile, mountain residents Nan, Brute, and Pieces discuss their own holiday plans, with Nan revealing she has a son she never knew, who had a father who died of 'black licorice lung'. A city family, including Candy and Jameis, initially mocks the mountain as 'basic' but decides to attend as a joke. Upon arrival, they find no Wi-Fi and get stuck due to snow, leading them to ironically embrace the festive atmosphere and experience authentic joy. The families reunite, with Teddy and Sally reconciling after 20 years. The son, Rick (short for Rickerish), arrives, completing Nan's story. The episode concludes with the cast attempting an improvised '12 Days of Christmas' focused on bear characters, highlighting the show's spontaneous, comedic format. Throughout, musical accompaniment by Scott Passarella supports the improvisation, and the hosts break character occasionally to discuss tour details and merchandise.

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Play clips from this episode More from Off Book: The Improvised Musical